Also, schools aren't clinics. They're contextualized systems. We can show how frameworks might work in some places where teachers can implement them, but we can't easily split people into control and treatment and give one group a pill. Ed Research can't rely on such narrow versions of "evidence"

well said, Becca.

Reassessment #grading gets messy fast.

Average scores? Cap them? Limit who can retake?

These choices reflect what we value: compliance or learning.

A simpler shift:
➡️ Replace the score if it’s higher. No penalties.

Grades should reflect what students know—period. Read more in my new post.

All-things standards-based grading.

✅ Research
✅ Podcasts
✅ Book lists
✅ Curated blog posts
✅ Classroom examples

🔗 mctownsley.net/standards-ba...

When formative assessment does its job—when students know where they stand and teachers have clarity on next steps—summative assessments become a confirmation of learning, not a flashlight in the dark.

🔗 mctownsley.net/when-standar...

Why Is Education so Fad-Prone? 4 Reasons Schools Can’t Resist the Shiny New Thing Pondiscio: Stability is easily mistaken for complacency or indifference. So schools reward the appearance of change over the reality of improvement.

Currently reading: Why Is Education so Fad-Prone? 4 Reasons Schools Can’t Resist the Shiny New Thing www.the74million.org/article/why-... via @the74.bsky.social

Learn how to use grades to effectively communicate secondary students' mastery of learning standards.

On sale right now for <$30 w/free Prime shipping

#grading #ad #sblchat #K12 #StandardsBasedGrading

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Love That Changes Everything YouTube video by Bayside Church

"The way you treat people you disagree with might reveal more about your faith than anything else."

[May this be true in my life]

youtu.be/UIGhDGEaVvc?...

seems like a no-brainer to me!

Any Apple trade-in value remaining on your M2 iPad Pro?

All Things Standards-Based Grading (the SBG hub)

✅ Article lists
✅ Book recommendations
✅ Podcast links
✅ Lots (and lots) of examples

▶️ mctownsley.net/standards-ba...

#EduSky #K12 #Grading

Lessons from NASA: Reassessing Learning for Student Success After failure, NASA didn’t abandon its mission—they adjusted, learned, and tried again. What if classrooms did the same? A mastery learning reassessment system ensures all students reach high standards through time, feedback, and multiple opportunities. This post outlines a practical, sustainable approach to making “all students succeed” a reality.

After failure, NASA didn’t quit—they learned and tried again. What if classrooms did the same? A mastery learning #reassessment system gives students time, #feedback, and multiple chances to reach high standards. Small steps can lead to big gains in student learning.

Grading (or not grading) to support student learning - Michigan Assessment Consortium Educators—learn how intentional grading practices can enhance student learning in this interactive K-12 webinar with Matt Townsley.

Grading (or not grading) to support student learning

Join me on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 4:30pm for this Michigan Assessment Consortium alumni and friends virtual event.

www.michiganassessmentconsortium.org/event/gradin...

Standards-based Grading Implementation Pitfalls to Avoid in Secondary Math A growing number of Iowa schools are striving to improve communication of student learning by implementing standards-based or standards- referenced grading. Building upon the challenges identified …

The purpose of this paper is to suggest several common pitfalls to avoid when implementing standards-based grading in a secondary math classroom.

🔗 mctownsley.net/standards-ba...

The results from formative assessment should be boring!

📘 amzn.to/3NDHTlu #grading #ad #assessment

📢 Lecture halls, lock-ins and grading?!

Here’s the thing — there are a TON of ways the high school experience does not mimic colleges and universities.

Essay 🔗 mctownsley.net/standards-ba...

Thank you for providing this helpful resource!

Still mourning the loss of Flipgrid!

laughing out loud, I see what you did there.

Agree that moving away from "another purchased program" is a big step in the right direction!

Templates for your collaborative team to prioritize standards and make other important decisions about standards, assessment and grading.

🔗 www.solutiontree.com/making-grade...

A visual of a chess board depicting competition among students.

K-12 grading practices:

Competence > Competition.

Bracket busted? #MarchMadness

Bring your leadership team to the 3rd annual Standards-Based Grading Conference!

📅 June 15, 2026
📍 Cedar Falls, IA

Early bird registration deadline coming up on 3/31. Register today for the only leadership-focused SBG conference in the nation!

👉 coe.uni.edu/llc/about-de...

Thrilled to share our newly published article in the Journal of School #Leadership:

“Silver Lining or Missed Opportunity? A Mixed Methods Study of COVID-19 School Closures and #Grading Reform Efforts in K-12 Schools.”

doi.org/10.1177/1052...

Iowa public educators!

Our book was written for you, giving you the basics of IPERS and personal finance in an hour or two, and then directing you to further resources.

amzn.to/3OqnvUI #IowaTeachers #ad #iaedchat

Using Grading to Support Student Learning offers an accessible foundation for using grading practices to support student learning through classroom assessment.

43% off right now via Amazon --> amzn.to/3LC76f8 #grading #research #ad #sblchat

haha!

New blog post: How many levels of learning should our school or district use? [standards-based grading]

🔗 mctownsley.net/how-many-lev...

New blog post: If work habits are important enough to be reported, they are important enough to be formally taught and assessed—even when they are not included in the academic grade.

🔗 mctownsley.net/work-habits-...